If the Oilers are going to improve in the coming seasons, it has to start on the blueline. They need a develop a top-pairing D-man, rather than rely on the very low possibility they will be able to trade for one. Unless a team is in a financial crunch, or a complete rebuild, I don't see a reason why they would move a legitimate top-pairing defender.

So that leaves the Oilers in the dubious position of needing to wait until Oscar Klefbom or Darnell Nurse emerge as a top-pair defender.

The Edmonton Oilers’ only move at the trade deadline was to ship Jeff Petry out East in exchange for draft picks, a move which makes one of the weakest defensive groups in the NHL weaker still. And yet, in his press availability yesterday, general manager Craig MacTavish once again praised the players currently comprising that group.

Well, another trade deadline has come and gone, and the Oilers are once again worse today than they were yesterday. Are we surprised? No, of course not. Since the Oilers are endlessly disappointing you could probably use some cheering up, and so I present another edition of the mailbag. This segment depends on you, so if you have a question you can email it to me at baggedmilk@oilersnation.com or on Twitter at @jsbmbaggedmilk. Without further delay, the Mailbag. Enjoy.

No matter how they spin it, Edmonton Oilers’ GM Craig MacTavish and the rest of his management team came off looking like inept bunglers yet again this morning when they dealt Jeff Petry to the Montreal Canadiens.

From the puck drop on opening night almost everyone watching and covering the Oilers expected Jeff Petry to be traded at the deadline, and the expected return was a second round pick. That occurred today when the Montreal Canadiens acquired the 27 year-old D-man for a second round pick and a conditional fifth rounder.

If the Habs win one playoff round that conditional picks becomes a fourth rounder, if they win two rounds it becomes a third rounder. The Oilers essentially got an extra pick for Petry, which is good, but they also traded away a proven NHL player.